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CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, Vol 32, 348-362, Copyright © 1982 by American Cancer Society

The Scientific Basis for Carcinogen Detection and Primary Cancer Prevention

¹ Professor of Medicine and Environmental Sciences and a member of the Cancer Center/Institute of Cancer Research of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University in New York, New York.

The primary prevention of specific human cancers must take into account the likelihood that most cancers result from a complex interaction between multiple environmental (exogenous) and host (endogenous) factors. In addition, the carcinogenic process often proceeds via multiple steps, including initiation, promotion, and progression. Therefore, assays are required that detect not only initiating carcinogens, but also tumor promoters, hormones, and various cofactors. The known biologic and biochemical properties of initiating carcinogens are reviewed and contrasted with those of tumor promoters. The implications of these differences with respect to the detection and assay of these agents are stressed.